AP Top 25 Heat Check: Highs and lows of ranking 2-loss teams

Ohio State running back Mike Weber, left, celebrates his touchdown against Michigan State with teammate Johnnie Dixon during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

At its best, Ohio State has looked about as good as any team in the country. The Buckeyes’ bad days, though, have been very bad.

The peculiar case of Ohio State’s season has been an oddly shaped piece of the puzzle for AP Top 25 voters to manage this season. The Buckeyes’ highest high so far came Saturday against Michigan State when they blasted Michigan State by 45 points. That came a week after Ohio State hit bottom, losing by 31 at Iowa. The Hawkeyes then turned around and managed exactly zero offensive points at Wisconsin to make matters even more confusing.

Ohio State (8-2) landed at No. 8 in the Top 25 on Sunday , the second-highest ranked of the teams with two losses. Auburn (8-2) is No. 6 after handing Georgia its first loss on Saturday. Then come the Bulldogs at No. 7 and Ohio State starts a string of teams with two losses, including No. 9 Notre Dame, No 11 TCU and No. 16 Washington, all of which lost for a second time this past weekend.

Among those two-loss teams ranked from 8-16, the Buckeyes have the largest average margin in its wins (35.5 points) and the second-largest average margin in its losses (23).

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Schedule strength varies, of course, and influences these numbers, but here’s how the other two-loss teams are doing.

No. 6 Auburn: Average margin of victory, 28; average margin of defeat, 6.0.

No. 9 Notre Dame: 25.4; 17.0.

No. 10 Oklahoma State: 22.6; 11.5.

No. 11 TCU: 25.5; 12.5.

No. 12 USC: 17.2; 19.0.

No. 13 Penn State: 30.3; 2.0.

No. 15 Washington State: 20.5; 27.5.

No. 16 Washington: 31.6; 7.0.

Heat check tends to be more about the highs than the lows. How did the voters handle it?

No. 1 Alabama (10-0)

It’s not just Alabama scheduling these late-season FCS games and it’s not just SEC teams. Hi, ACC teams. It’s a smart move if you can pull it off without it hurting your postseason chances. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t stink.

Next: vs. Mercer.

Heat check: Just right.

No. 2 Miami (9-0)

Just two weeks ago, the Hurricanes were in fourth-quarter danger of letting one slip away to North Carolina. Look at them now. It is fair to be a little wary that the team Miami was for the first two months of the season could show up in the next couple weeks.

Next: vs. Virginia.

Heat check: Too hot, but just a touch.

No. 3 Oklahoma (9-1)

Complain about the Sooners’ defense all you want, but then also ask: Who is stopping these guys? Overlooked aspect of the Sooners’ offense is the line is elite.

Next: at Kansas.

Heat check: Too cold.

No. 4 Clemson (9-1)

Did anybody think when Clemson sacked Auburn 11 times in September it was a possible playoff preview?

Next: vs. The Citadel.

Heat check: Too cold.

No. 5 Wisconsin (10-0)

Over the last three seasons, the Badgers’ national rank in yards allowed per play: third (2017), 18th (2016), fourth (2015). Each season with a different defensive coordinator. That’s the Wisconsin Way.

Next: vs. No. 19 Michigan.

Heat check: Too hot.

No. 6 Auburn (8-2)

The Tigers had to work out some offensive kinks early in the season, but those were overrated and, hence, they have been underrated.

Next: vs. Louisiana-Monroe.

Heat check: Too cold.

No. 7 Georgia (9-1)

The Bulldogs and their top-of-the-resume victory at Notre Dame both took a beating this weekend.

Next: vs. Kentucky.

Heat check: Just right.

No. 8 Ohio State (8-2)

If the best Buckeyes show up three more times they just might be a playoff team.

Next: vs. Illinois.

Heat check: Too hot.

No. 9 Notre Dame (8-2)

It was a meltdown in Miami, but the Irish still have three lopsided victories against teams in the current Top 25. Only Oklahoma has as many.

Next: vs. Navy.

Heat check: Too cold.

No. 10 Oklahoma State (8-2)

Losses to TCU and Oklahoma are likely to lock the Cowboys out of the Big 12 title game, but could they sneak into a New Year’s Six game over the loser of the conference title game?